One winner from the following categories will receive a handcrafted Fire & Light trophy and bragging rights: Best Raw Oyster, Best Cooked Oyster and Best of Show Oyster (highest distinction).

Judging the Best Oysters will be a two-day affair this year. It will kick off with a meet-and-greet hosted by Arcata Main Street on Friday, June 17 in the Plaza View Room in Arcata’s historic Jacoby’s Storehouse starting at 5 p.m.

Participating Oyster Contest food vendors will submit their raw oyster entries for judging by a panel of hand-picked judges. These judges will select their choice for the Best Raw Oyster.

Following the meet-and-greet, Arcata Main Street will host an Oyster Ball from 7 to 10 p.m.

This event is open to the public for $15 and there will be appetizers, beverages and live music from the good vibes, acoustic, coastal-rock band, Headshine.

You’ll also have a chance to buy an official Oyster Festival T-shirt and a Front of the Line pass before the big day.

The next morning, the main event will begin at 10 a.m. on Saturday, June 18, on the Arcata Plaza, where you can get your fill of exotic oysters from around the globe including plump Kumamoto oysters from Humboldt and Arcata Bays.

The judges will gather again in the Plaza View Room to select the Best Cooked Oyster and the Best of Show.

This year, the winners for the best Oysters in Humboldt County will be announced at 12:30 p.m., so festival goers will have the opportunity to enjoy some of these tasty delights during the festival.